Goodes has drawn inspiration from players such as St Kilda’s Nicky Winmar, Essendon’s Michael Long and Richmond’s Maurice Rioli, who among others helped pave the way for the record 82 Indigenous players on AFL lists today.
In 1993, St Kilda’s Nicky Winmar proudly lifted his shirt and pointed to the colour of his skin after being vilified by Collingwood supporters.
Essendon’s Michael Long in 1995 reported offensive language used by an opposition player to the AFL, and once walked from Melbourne to Canberra to meet former Prime Minister John Howard and draw attention to Indigenous issues.
Maurice Rioli spoke out about the racial taunts and obstacles faced by Indigenous players in the competition and was the first Aboriginal and first player from a losing side to win the prestigious Norm Smith Medal.
Goodes, 29, said although he has faced bouts of racism throughout his life, it would have been more challenging to get through it if it wasn’t for the past Indigenous stars.
“I found it very difficult at times being the only Aboriginal player, the only black person playing but I had a lot of friends who had support for me and through my time at the AFL I’ve only been racially vilified three times,” Goodes said.
“It’s been difficult but I dare say it would have been a lot harder if it wasn’t for the likes of Nicky Winmar, Michael Long, Maurice Rioli, these forefathers who really showed the way for us younger players today.
“I think what happened is they stood up for themselves and said it is unacceptable and the AFL reacted.
“Thanks to these guys for standing up and being proud of who they are, it has made it a lot easier for myself and other Indigenous players to come through without the same sort of criticism.”
Goodes, originally from Adelaide, was drafted to the Swans with pick number 43 in the 1997 AFL draft and after spending a season in the reserves had an immediate impact in his first year winning the Rising Star award.
Goodes is now one of the competition's elite midfielders, but it was in the ruck that he claimed the prestigious Brownlow Medal, becoming only the second Indigenous player to win the AFL’s highest individual honour.
A Collingwood supporter growing up, Goodes was recognised alongside idol Nathan Buckley and Adelaide’s Mark Ricciuto as joint winners in 2003 and three years later claimed a second Brownlow Medal to become the only Indigenous and first player from a non-Victorian team to win two.
“To win it again was just mind-boggling and to do it in a year where we made the grand final, unluckily we lost by a point, but to be up there with Gavin Wanganeen as the only two brother boys who have done it, is a huge honour,” he said.
After joining the Swans, Goodes commenced a TAFE course to find out more about his Indigenous heritage. He learned about his Aboriginality and the history, culture and languages of his people, and now is regularly seen in the Indigenous community helping those in need.
Goodes said to have a round dedicated to the impact and involvement of all Indigenous people past and present acknowledges where the game is today.
“We’ve got a fantastic bunch of Indigenous players running around now.
"They’re premiership players, they’re Brownlow Medalists, they’re Norm Smith Medalists, they’re Coleman Medalists, they’re NAB Rising Stars, there’s not too many things the brother boys haven’t ticked off and hopefully we keep getting more influx of Indigenous players and seeing them excel and play well.”
